One Shooting Season Ends and Another Begins
Minnesota Sub-Junior Makes History at 2011 State Sporting Clays Championship
Team Minnesota Wins Silver and Bronze at the SCTP National Championships
Minnesota SCTP Sporting Clays Tournaments
Minnesota Sporting Clays History Made at the State 5-Stand Championship
One Shooting Season Ends and Another Begins
Author Kevin Ritter, with Carson and Bill Spohn of Duluth, Minn., with their N.D. waterfowl.
The sporting clays season has finally ended. Well as much as any sport really stops functioning during the off season nowadays. There are three remaining shoots – one for each month remaining in 2011. On October 29th, South St. Paul Rod and Gun Club will host the 100 bird Halloween Shoot. The Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club will be hosting the 100 bird Thanksgivings Fun Shoot on November 19th and 20th and the final shoot of the year on December 26th through the 30th. The 100 bird Holiday Break is a great event to try out those new Christmas gifts whether it is a new sporting or small gauge shotgun, chambermaids, shooting glasses, etc. But enough about shooting - let’s talk hunting. See you on the clay course.
Like many waterfowlers, I live for the fall and duck hunting. I grew up hunting divers in Aitkin County. I collect duck calls. I teach young kids about waterfowl identification and calling. My favorite book and outdoor writer is Gordon MacQuarrie “Stories of the Old Duck Hunter and Other Drivel” (actually a trilogy). I practice calling year round, perfecting the vocalization of dabblers, divers, widgeons, geese, and cranes. Yes Sandhill cranes, which congregate in huge numbers in the Sandhill country of North Dakota during the fall migration. I got my first two crane calls four years ago. Singles and pairs respond very well to the loud woody rattles and rolling trumpet like sounds and if done perfectly, the cadence covers multiple pitches that rise and fall with each refrain. I haven’t been able to convince my wife to learn and perfect the most significant vocalization of Sandhill cranes the “unison call,” which is a complex series of well orchestrated calls performed by a mated pair of cranes. Like most waterfowlers, I’m somewhere on the “obsessed with waterfowl” scale. My wife doesn’t share my passion (okay obsession) but does tolerate it. I’ll let you know if she changes her mind about the Sandhill crane duet.
On a recent trip to Devils Lake, North Dakota, I rekindled my waterfowling spirit with two full days in the marshes and wide sweeping fields of North Dakota. The new picture of the prairie pothole landscape this year is water - lots of water. Since the earlier 1990s, I’ve been hunting a small corner of the NoDak prairie, skipping a year here and there to go out west to hunt elk and mule deer. Over the years, I’ve seen the prairie dry and wet, but I’ve never seen the water higher or in so many new places. The effect of the higher than normal water level was marked by an increasing number of road closures; some around the most productive duck hunting waters west of Devils Lake - waters where hundreds and hundreds of ducks and geese molt, which is needed for a good opener.
On Saturday morning, my brother-in-law, his son, and I left Devils Lake at oh-dark-thirty for a 50 minute drive to nowhere North Dakota. With a bag of decoys, guns, shells, backpacks, and waders, we began the long walk to the marsh with more gear than we would need or end up using. I have a thing for nice-to-have-it-best-to-bring-it. The constellation Orion stood tall and alert in the predawn morning. Orion is one of a few constellations that can be seen from around the world during certain months of the year. The hunter deity watched from above as our small hunting party cutout-across the picked bean field toward a marsh favored by molting and roosting ducks.
No boat required for this hunt. Waders will do just fine along with a good dog for retrieving. Lars is my eight year old English Springer Spaniel Field Trial companion. Tugging on his lease, Lars can already smell the marsh and sense the excitement that lies ahead. On day 50, which marked Lars’ first full day with his new family, I introduced him to the waters of White Bear Lake. Now more otter than dog, Lars can’t wait for his first swim or retrieve.
The morning broke slowly hindered by filtering clouds that would eventually give way to a beautiful sunny afternoon. The wind was perfect both in direction and speed. I believe wind trumps rain, sleet, and snow and will turn a blue-bird day into a fantastic day. Wind is the one thing ducks need and hunters should use to their utmost advantage, whether trading between picked fields, bodies of water, or winging it south, ducks and duck hunters welcome the wind. And there’s always a good chance of it being windy in North Dakota. I’ve heard locals say “don’t curse the wind or everyone will want to live here.” I’m not so sure about that, but I am sure my wife will never let me retire in Sandhill country, unless I want to retire alone with the wind.
Fifteen minutes before the 2011 NoDak waterfowl season opened, it could have all easily been cut short. Standing with Lars on a peninsula with water to our left, in front, and behind, I was nearly hit by a very low flying squadron of Ringnecks or bluebills. I literally saw feet hanging from bodies, then more bodies with feet, followed by a lot more wings as the flock parted my frame leaving my ears filled with the rush of air flowing over feathered wings, ending with a gush of air on my face and neck as the winged assassins dipped toward the water then rose sharply before disappearing into the darkness not yet reached by the rising light of the morning. Lars whimpered possibly wandering why I didn’t defend myself. Bill, my brother-in-law, asked if I saw them. I answered “I nearly got hit” while sinking to one knee in case there was another flock not far behind.
My nephew Carson broke the morning silence by dropping a large silhouetted duck. Up to that moment, I watched and listened to our marsh come alive. Really no different than any of the other mornings I’ve spent in the marsh over the many years. But no less exciting either. I got on the board next shooting a decoying gadwall from a flock of about a dozen or so. I love the edibility of brown ducks. Having grown up eating divers, I welcome the soft, pink flesh of gadwalls, widgeons, and pintails. I didn’t shoot but once admiring the scene unfolding before me. The remaining gadwalls reacted slowly to the single report of my Benelli Super Sport II as they were set on landing just outside of the decoys some thirty yards away. Then suddenly, the scattering flock picked up altitude carrying them straight over Lars and then me. I watched as the bunch molded back into a flock winging it toward some other marsh and another attempt to sit on quiet waters.
The gadwall fell dead with wings spread out on the water in mock flight. I marked the bird for Lars and sent him. Twenty yards from shore Lars looked back at me for a little confidence having not seen any movement on the dark water. Baaack! I encouraged. Lars hitched his confidence in the direction of the command and 15 yards later marked the downed duck.
Next year will mark the fifteenth year that I’ve been hunting the fall migration in NoDak land. Weather permitting I’ll make a second trip at the end of October or earlier November where I’ll spend two days waterfowling and two days pheasant hunting. I have many pictures and many more stories highlighting the numerous trips with my dad, family, and friends. I hope you have enjoyed this one.
If you or your organization would like to support any of the SCTP teams whether it is trap, skeet, or sporting clays, or sponsor a team, please contact Kevin Ritter at kevin.ritter@comcast.net. And take them on the wing.
Minnesota Sub-Junior Makes History at 2011 State Sporting Clays Championship
By Kevin Ritter
While the Little League World Series championship was being played out in South Williamsport Pennsylvania this past weekend, the other boys of summer were competing at the Minnesota State Sporting Clays Championship in Le Sueur, Minnesota. Colton Saugestad made history at the annual state event by taking home more titles, medals and trophies than any previous SCTP (Scholastic Clay Target Program) athlete, taking no less than 11 awards and titles. This once AA (double-A) shooter now master class shooter really brought his A game. Here are the highlights.
The Minnesota State Sporting Clays Championship is the largest sporting clays shotgun shooting event held in the state. The annual event draws in adult and youth shooting athletes from all four corners of the state, the upper mid-west, and as far away as Wyoming and Nebraska to compete in shotgun marksmanship events such as FITASC (Parcour de Chasse) 12 gauge and 28 gauge, small gauge (20, 28, and 410), true pairs, pump gun, super sport, 5-stand, side-by-side, and the sporting clays main and prelim events. Certainly a lot of events to compete in and to do well in the majority of them is no small feat. To rise to the occasion, a shooter must be focused, confident, well practiced, and handle the pressures of competing in front of your peers and Mother Nature. For the four days that define the state sporting clays championship, Colton Saugestad rose to the level of champion, starting with the 100 target Prelim event on Friday August 26th at Caribou Gun Club – host of the 2011 State Sporting Clays Championship. Colton shot the afternoon rotation under sunny skies with his dad Ed Saugestad who is the 2010 sporting clays champion. Having shot the morning rotation, I can tell you that the targets were very challenging and by the end of the event, the day was heating up, taking a toll on this shooter. Colton shot his way onto the leader board taking third place in AA and Sub-Junior Prelim champion with an 86. Sub-Junior and SCTP teammate Dylan Burns (2011 SCTP National silver medalist) was runner up, shooting a 76, and SCTP teammate Nate Wannebo took third place, shooting a 67. In the Junior category, the 2008 SCTP National silver medalist Joe Will was named champion, shooting a 88, Nolan Sprengeler (2010 SCTP National gold medalist, 2011 bronze medalist, and Colton’s teammate) was runner up shooting a 87, and Drew Benson (2008 SCTP National silver medalist) and Joe’s teammate shot an 82 taking third place. Brad Bohrer and Cody Munkvold took fourth and fifth place, shooting a 72 and 69, respectively.
Colton’s next event was the Sporting Clays Main, which is a two-day event consisting of 100 targets each day. Colton finished the day with an impressive 88 – two targets better than his dad, turning in the second best score of the day, besting all but one of the top-named shooters. On day two, Colton shot another impressive score, shooting an 86 with a combined two-day score of 174 and the title of Sub-Junior champion and AA class first place. Colton’s two-day score was only three targets behind his dad who was named 2011 HOA (high-overall) third place champion. Teammate Nate Wannebo was Sub-Junior runner up, turning in a 136, and Adam Grazzini taking third with a 122. This was Nate’s first medal in a major championship. In the Junior category, Drew Benson was named champion, and also master class third place winner, shooting a 174. Brad Bohrer (2010 SCTP National gold medalist, 2011 bronze medalist, and Colton’s teammate) was Junior runner up, shooting a 169, followed by third place winner Joe Will who turn in a score of 159. Nolan Sprengeler and Cody Munkvold, also teammates of Colton took fourth and fifth place, shooting a 157 and 136, respectively.
Colton Saugestad wasn’t done yet. Colton was name Sub-Junior FITASC champion shooting 38 out of 50 targets. SCTP teammate Nolan Sprengeler was runner up shooting a 35. Drew Benson was named Junior FITASC champion shooting a 46, with teammate Joe Will taking runner up, shooting a 43, and third place went to Brad Bohrer who turned in a score of 41.
In the 5-Stand event, Colton was named Sub Junior champion and AA class first place, shooting a 44. Wyatt Haas was runner up with a score of 31. In the Junior category, Nolan Sprengeler was named champion, shooting a 41, Brad Bohrer was runner up with a 40, and third place went to Joe Will who turned in a 39. Cody Munkvold took fourth place with a 37 and was the third place winner in C class.
In the 410 event, Colton was named Sub-Junior champion and was the second place winner in AA class, shooting a 43 out of 50 targets. Adam Grazzini was runner up and first place winner in D class, shooting a 36. Carter Hennen took third place, shooting a 23. Nolan Sprengeler was name Junior champion, turning in a 41.
In the Super Sport event, Colton was named Sub-Junior champion and was the second place winner in AA class, shooting an impressive 47 out of 50 targets. SCTP teammate Dylan Burns was runner up, shooting a 43, and third place went to Robert Christensen who turned in a 34.
In the True Pair event, Colton was named Sub-Junior champion and was the first place winner in AA class, shooting an impressive 47 out of 50 targets. SCTP teammate Dylan Burns was runner up, shooting a 40. Joe Will was named Junior champion shooting a 46 where Cody Munkvold was runner up with a 41.
What an impressive display of shooting marksmanship and athleticism. Congratulations Colton! And good luck at the Zone 5 championship in Flint Oak, Kansas.
If you or your organization would like to support any of the SCTP teams whether it is trap, skeet, or sporting clays, or sponsor a team, please contact Kevin Ritter at kevin.ritter@comcast.net. See you on the clay course.
Team Minnesota Wins Silver and Bronze at the SCTP National Championships
By Kevin Ritter
Front row: Dylan Burns, Brent Westemeier; Second row: Nolan Sprengeler, Josh Boudreaux, Nate Wannebo, Cody Munkvold, Colton Saugestad; Back row coach Ed Saugestad, Bryan Greene, Riley Vreeman, Brad Bohrer, and coach Cal Munkvold
On July 13th through the 16th, the 2011 Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) National Team Championships were held at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Illinois. The SCTP National Team Championship is a four day event where shooting athletics compete for national team titles in Sporting Clays, Skeet, and Trap. Team Minnesota won Silver and Bronze medals in the sporting clays discipline. The team competed in both the sporting clays and skeet disciplines. This represents another first for Minnesota and head coach Cal Munkvold along with assistant coach Ed Saugestad winning two medals in two different divisions: Intermediate and Senior. The Intermediate squad of Dylan Burns, Riley Vreeman, and Brent Westemeier took second place, winning the Silver medal with a combined team score of 451 out of 600 targets. New comer, Dylan Burns from Burnsville, MN took the runner up high-overall (HOA) award for the Intermediate division, shooting an impressive 167 out of 200 targets in the two day competition. The Varsity squad of Nolan Sprengeler, Brad Bohrer, and Colton Saugestad were awarded the Bronze medal with a combined score of 552 out of 600 targets in the two day competition. Only five targets separated the first, second, and third place teams. What an impressive display of shooting athleticism. Nolan Sprengeler from Green Isle, MN took fourth in the individual standing with only three targets separating first through fourth places. Brad Bohrer from So. St. Paul, MN was seventh with Colton Saugestad from Minneapolis, MN finishing in 17th place. In 2010, this squad won the Gold medal in the Junior Varsity category at nationals. On a side note, this team will stay together and compete again in the 2012 shooting year.
In other awards held at the two day national sporting clays championship, senior Bryan Greene won A class and Nate Wannebo won C class. There are seven competitive classes in sporting clays that the NSCA uses to rank shooters competitively. The classes range from master, AA, and A through E. Over 500 athletics competed this year in the sporting clays discipline.
The coaches for team Minnesota also competed in the highly competitive SCTP Coaches Shoot Out where coaches and SCTP team volunteers compete in Skeet, 5-Stand, and trap. The Minnesota delegation took first place with coaches Ed Saugestad and Cal Munkvold taking HOA, and HOA third. Congratulations team Minnesota on an outstanding performance in front of a national audience.
At the 2011 Minnesota State SCTP Championships, coach Cal Munkvold saw his team pickup three Gold medals and one Silver medal, going four for four in medals awarded. The Varsity team of Nolan Sprengeler, Brad Bohrer, and Colton Saugestad took first place beating Cal Munkvold's other Varsity team by one target. The second place team of Bryan Greene, Cody Munkvold, and Josh Boudreaux shot a combined score of 242 out of 300 targets where the first place team shot 243 out of 300 targets. What a competitive team of shooters. The team of Bradon Kempenich, Wyatt Nelson, and Gauge Pauly took the Varsity Bronze medal, shooting a combined score of 223. In the Junior Varsity category, team Deltone took first place, winning Gold with a combined score of 219, and team Stearns County Pheasants Forever took home the Silver medal with a combined score of 172. In the Advance Intermediate category, Cal Munkvold's team of Dylan Burns, Riley Vreeman, and Brent Westemeier took first place with a combined score of 211 out of 300, where Stearns County Pheasants Forever took home the Silver medal with a combined score of 158. In the Intermediate category, coach Munkvold team won its third Gold medal of the state championship. New comers Meghan Boudreaux, Mike Rorem, and Ben Hoxie shot a combined score of 172 to take the high honors. Team Le Blanc Rice Creek took the Silver medal with a combined score of 125.
Mike Hanowski took HOA honors in the Intermediate category shooting a 75 while Meghan Boudreaux took RU shooting a 63, which tied Anna Nicolai for the Lady's Subjunior HOA honors. Anna Nicolai was HOA RU in the Lady's category at the 2011 state high school trap league championship. In the Advance Intermediate category, Dylan Burns captured the HOA honors shooting a 77 with teammate Brent Westemeier taking RU shooting a 73. In the JV category, Michael Nistler took HOA shooting an 84 with teammate Tyler Stellmach taking RU shooting a 72. Le Blanc's Rice Creek Bradon Kemperich took HOA in the Varsity category shooting an impressive 92 where Bryan Greene from team SSP took RU shooting an equally impressive 90.
The state SCTP Championship was held this year at the Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club. Shooters were presented with 100 targets spread over 18 stations. Each team consists of three to five shooters where only three designated shooters' scores were aggregated.
Finally, coach Cal Munkvold received the Steve Walz Memorial Coach of the Year Award. Coach Munkvold has been an SCTP sporting clays coach since 2007 and is the assistant coach for the Eden Prairie High School Trap team, which he help form this last spring. Coach Munkvold's involved in the shooting sports equals his involvement as a community leader, mentor, and volunteer. Congratulations coach Munkvold.
If you or your organization would like to support any of the SCTP teams whether it is trap, skeet, or sporting clays, or sponsor a team, please contact Kevin Ritter at kevin.ritter@comcast.net. See you on the clay course.
By Kevin Ritter
June has traditionally been the busiest month for clay shooters. This June was no different. The Minnesota State High School Trap League wrapped up their season, holding their state championship at the Minneapolis Gun Club. Up state team McGregor was name Varsity champion with White Bear Lake and Prior Lake taking second and third place, respectively. In the JV category, White Bear Lake took first place with St Francis and Prior Lake taking second and third, respectively. In the Novice category, St. Francis took first place with new comers Belle Plaine and Jordan taking second and third place, respectively. KayCee Nelson of team White Bear Lake was again named female HOA (high-overall) where Anna Nicolai of team St. Paul Academy and Anna Timms from Worthington taking runner up and third place. Zach Warweg of team New Prague took the HOA title for the men with John Mellum of Rogers and Cody Ziemer of Minnetonka taking runner up and third place, respectively. In the conference standing, team Rogers was named the North Conference champion where team New Richland/NRHEG took the South Conference. Team Hopkins came out on top in the Metro West
Conference with St. Paul Academy taking the Metro North Conference. Congratulations shooters, coaches, volunteers, parents, and sponsors for another great year. In the sporting clays division, SCTP shooters wrapped up the regular season with shoots at Caribou and South St. Paul. Next month, I’ll wrap up the 2011 SCTP sporting clays season. Until then, the state SCTP Sporting Clays Championship will be held at Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club on July 9th. The week of July 12th through the 16th team South St. Paul will be traveling to Sparta, Illinois to compete in the 2011 SCTP National Championships. Last year, team Minnesota won a gold medal in the Junior Varsity category. This year team SSP will be sending three teams to nationals to compete in the sporting clays and skeet divisions in the Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Intermediate categories. Good luck team Minnesota.
One only has to look at the ATA and MSC websites to see the number of tournaments held in the month of June. And this year, Minnesota sporting clays shooters were treated to a new tournament called the Players Championship. The Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club in Prior Lake hosted the first ever tournament where the top prize was $10,000.00. The newly formed event piggybacked on the Minnesota State FITASC Championship.
Low Gun Mount for Low FITSC Targets
FITASC is the acronym for Federation Internationale de Tir Aux Sportives de Chasse or Parcours De Chasse, which is one of the oldest and most prestigious but also the most mentally demanding of all shooting sports. The French name translates to “Course of Hunting” and as you guessed it, the targets closely emulate the flight, speed, and unpredictability of game birds. This year competitors were treated to eight Parcours where each Parcour consisted of three shooting pegs comprising of five to six traps. Shooting pegs represent different shooting locations and positions on the Parcour, which makes this a thinking person’s game.
Low Gun Mount for High FITSC Targets
There are two FITASC systems: the old and the new. The old or original system was used for the Players Championship. The peg locations on a Parcour are marked by a one meter diameter hoop placed on the ground. A squad of three to six shooters shoots the sequence of targets from peg 1, and then moves on to peg 2, and finally peg 3. Squads are shown the targets they will shoot. The first shooter will shoot all their singles from that peg and then steps out of the hoop to allow the next shooter to shoot. Shooters will take turns shooting first, rotating among the singles, doubles, and pegs. Doubles or “Raffael” can be simultaneous thrown, on report, or trailing.
A shooter’s gun position and movement is strictly monitored by a field judge, making sure the heel of the stock never rises to the shoulder or the gun swings to the target until the target is thrown and can be seen by the shooter and judge. This rule levels the playing field so no shooter has an advantage as they make their move to the target. This is commonly referred to as starting with a low gun, which is the exact opposite of a premounted gun (i.e., the shooter has shouldered the gun). Those two rules clearly make this game more difficult to master because every shooter knows the more movement equates to more variability and the greater the chance of a miss. If the shooter moves his gun before the target is visible, they are immediately warned by the judge. Repeated violations result in targets being deducted from the shooters score card. The clay targets for FITASC consist of all types such as standards, battues, 90s, rabbits, and minis. The variety adds considerable challenge for the shooter, making accurate reading of the target much more difficult.
For the Players Championship standing, go to http://www.winscoreonline.com and click on Tournament Results and select the Players Championship. If you or your organization would like to support any of the SCTP teams whether it is trap, skeet, or sporting clays, or sponsor a team, please contact Kevin Ritter at kevin.ritter@comcast.net. See you on the clay course!
Minnesota SCTP Sporting Clays Tournaments
By Kevin Ritter
After a cold, wet start to the 2011 SCTP (Scholastic Clay Target Program) shooting season, clay shooters are looking forward to finishing out the regular season with warmer, sunnier days. Sporting clay shooters are busy practicing with their teammates and coaches, preparing for the last two shoots in June and the state SCTP sporting clays championship in early July. The next two shoots will be held on June 4th and 5th at Caribou Gun Club in Le Sueur, MN and June 11th at South St. Paul Rod and Gun Club, in South St. Paul, MN. The 2011 SCTP State Sporting Clays Championships will be held July 9th at Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club in Prior Lake, MN.
Brad Bohrer started off the 2011 SCTP shooting season by breaking an impressive 90 targets out-of the100 thrown at the Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club in Prior Lake, MN. The remarkable shooting display picks up where Bohrer left off last year – where he and his two teammates won the National SCTP Junior Varsity title. Coach Cal Munkvold is counting on Bohrer to continue to bring his A game and demonstrate consistent shooting results backed up by good target planning. Brad's teammates and frequent competitors Nolan Sprengeler shot an 80 where Colton Saugestad, Cody Munkvold, and Josh Boudncauy all shot a 76. Josh's brother and sister Bart and Meghan Boudncauy shot a 64 and 65 respectively. Brent Westemeier shot a 65 and new comer Dylan Burns shot a 62. The weather was clearly a factor in the low scores. The parents who came out that day were real troopers because it was windy, wet, and cold. Thank you parents for supporting our shooters.
Zach Albers shot lights out at the second event of the year, shooting a 97 out-of 100 at Le Blanc's Rice Creek in Little Falls MN. Yes that's right, a 97. Congratulations Zach on a truly remarkable shooting display. I asked Zach if he remembered any of the three targets that he missed and he replied, "yes and I wish I could have them back." Quite the competitor. Two birds behind Zach found Colton Saugestad shooting a 95; yet another impressive score from a string of impressive scores. To say Colton Saugestad is shooting well is an understatement. Colton has racked up an impressive string of top three placements so far in the 2011 SCTP and MSCA (Minnesota Sporting Clays Association) shooting seasons. Exactly five birds behind was Dustyn Gerads shooting an impressive 92. Six birds back found Brandon Kemp and Jared Pemble breaking a pair of 91s. One remarkable statistic from the Rice Creek shoot was that nearly half the shooters shot 80 percent or better and in this class of shooters all shot better. Congratulations to all the SCTP shooters who participated at another great SCTP shooting event.
While watching the youth shoot at the Horse and Hunt Club and at Rice Creek, I could not help but again marvel at the number of adult volunteers who came out to give young shooters a chance to break targets and have fun. Whether a coach or parent, volunteers are the backbone of our SCTP organization in the State of Minnesota. Without volunteers, our youth would not have the opportunity to break or dream of breaking a 97 as Zach did and equally chilling is that our sport would soon fade in a couple of generations. The importance of those volunteers can be seen in the faces of young shooters safely breaking targets, having fun, and learning marksmanship.
So what can you do to help our state's youth achieve a dream, reach a goal, share a smile? By reaching out to the youth coordinator at your local gun club, the high school activities directory, or the SCTP advisor and get involved either with an existing team or start a team. Become a volunteer head coach, assistance coach, parent volunteer, or contribute money to help support a team or a shooter. If you enjoy the shooting sports and would like to give back a little of what the sport has given to you, then volunteer one night a week and help coach a team or pick one of the remaining shoots and volunteer to register shooters, aggregate scores, or buy a raffle ticket. The future of our sport needs you. Become a SCTP volunteer today!
If you or your organization would like to support any of the SCTP teams whether it is trap, skeet, or sporting clays, or sponsor a team, please contact Kevin Ritter at kevin.ritter@comcast.net. See you on the clay course.
Minnesota Sporting Clays History Made at the State 5-Stand Championship
By Kevin Ritter
On April 10th history was made at the 2011 Minnesota State 5-Stand Championship. The father and son duo of Ed and Colton Saugestad were named the 2011 Minnesota State 5-Stand champion and runner up champion. Senior Saugestad was awarded the gold medal and junior Saugestad was awarded the silver medal. This is the first time in Minnesota sporting clay history that a father and son have taken first and second at a Minnesota Sporting Clays Association (MSCA) championship. What is even more remarkable about this record book finish is that both Saugestads came from behind to clinch the HOA and RU titles. On the first day (of the two day tournament), father and son finished in third and fourth place respectively, shooting a 23, 24, 24, and 23 where Colton shot a 23, 24, 23, and 23 out of a possible 100 targets, trailing his father by just one target. This feat would be repeated the next day.
Colton Saugestad is one of the three 2010 SCTP (Scholastic Clay Target Program) National Junior Varsity Sporting Clays Champions. His 2010 SCTP National champion teammates Nolan Sprengeler and Brad Bohrer shot an 88 and 81, respectively. Juniors Drew Benson and Brain Greene from the fifth place 2010 SCTP National Varsity team shot a 90 and 84, respectively. It is worth noting that Nolan Sprengeler reached master class status late last year to be only the third shooter in Minnesota history to ever reach the top class as a sub junior in sporting clays. The first sub junior was Drew Benson and the second was Joe Will. It appears sub junior Colton Saugestad will soon join the ranks of this prestigious group of shooters very soon.
As I wrote in the March article of Outdoors Weekly titled "My Top Five Must Shoots of 2011", this year's 5-Stand championship was held at So. St. Paul Rod and Gun Club in So. St. Paul, MN. The carnival like atmosphere of the 5-stand layout reminded then and still does now like the mid-way shooting galleries at county fairs, but this shooting gallery has more targets and you get to use a shotgun. Each of the four 5-stand courses consisted of five stations where shooters are given a menu of single, report-pairs, or true-pairs from six to eight clay throwers. Everyone rotates threw the stations, shooting targets from nearly every angle, direction, and speed. Then, you move on to the next course and the next and the next. On day two, you get to do it all over again. Sounds like fun doesn't it.
After the first day, the top five shooters were Joe Ebson in first place, shooting an impressive 97 out of 100, followed by Steve Korin with an equally impressive 96, and Ed Saugestad in third place, shooting a 94. In fourth place was Colton Saugestad, who by-the-way is an A-class subjunior shooter shooting with a field of seasoned master-class shooters, shot a remarkable 93. Tied for fifth place was Steve Greene from Wisconsin and George Smythe from So. St. Paul Rod and Gun Club both shooting a 92.
On day two of the state 5-Stand Championship, shooters were greeted to sunny skies and warmer temperatures, which definitively had a positive affect on the tournament leaders. Steve Greene was named out-state champion finishing the day with a 96 and a two day total of 188. Fifth place was awarded to George Smythe who finished the day with a 91 with a two day total of 183. Fourth place went to Joe Ebson who finished the day with an 87 for a two day total of 184. Steve Korin, who recently accepted the position of Minnesota State SCTP Trap Advisor, shot a 90 for a two day total of 186 to claim the bronze medal. Runner up and silver medalist champion was none other than Colton Saugestad who shot an amazing 25, 24, 22, and 23 for a 94 with a two day total of 187. High-overall and gold medalist champion was you guessed it Colton's father Ed Saugestad. Ed shot a 24, 25, 23, and 23 for a 95 and a two day total of 189. Congratulations Ed and Colton Saugestad!!
Colton was also Subjunior champion with Dylan Burns taking the silver medal. Drew Benson was named Junior champion with Nolan Sprengeler taking silver and Bryan Greene (Steve Greene's son) taking the bronze medal.
If you or your organization would like to support any of the SCTP teams whether it is trap, skeet, or sporting clays, or sponsor a team, please contact Kevin Ritter at kevin.ritter@comcast.net. See you on the clay course.
If you would like to come out and cheer on Colton and his teammates from So. St. Paul Rod and Gun Club or any of the sporting clay teams from around the state, plan on attending and shooting these 2011 SCTP Sporting Clays events:
May 7th at LeBlanc's Rice Creek in Little Falls, MN
June 4th or 5th at Caribou Gun Club in Le Sueur, MN
June 11th at So. St. Paul Rod and Gun Club in So. St. Paul, MN
July 9th SCTP Sporting Clays State Championship at Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club in Prior Lake, MN
© 2011 OutdoorsWeekly.com
